28 



FLAX -DRESSING. 



dace, where proved, is nearly the same, from five to six coombs 

 per acre ; Mr. Atkinson's exceeding six coombs two quarters, 

 an! the others above five coombs, which, considering many 

 disadvantages, sufficiently realized the most favourable antici- 

 pations, and warranted a more enlarged cultivation of the crop. 



As to the amount of employment which the growth of flax 

 would create, it is not so easy to speak. But even if that dif- 

 ference only amounted, as Mr. Gower has stated, "to the dif- 

 ference between the price of foreign linseed and that of our 

 own growth, and which would have to be paid out of the poor- 

 rate," it is most material. From Mr. Norfor's observations, 

 it is fair to infer that the rippling and scutching of flax 

 would give considera,ble employment to females in the day, 

 as well as preparing it for market in tlie winter evenings. 

 We gather from the Irish Reports and other sources, that 

 it is not necessary for flax, either before or after steeping, 

 to be immediately prepared for manufacture ; on the con- 

 trary, that it is better for being stacked and kept ; that its 

 various modes of dressing would afford during the periods when 

 labour is not rife — early in the spring and in the winter — con- 

 siderable employment to those who Vvould probably be other- 

 wise receiving parish relief. 



Having thus given as much information on the subject as 

 our means have afforded, we must detail the proceedings which 

 took place. It may be thought by some of our readers that 

 w^e have leaned a little too much in favour of the suggestions 

 Mr. Warnes has made. If we have done so, we feel that we 

 have erred on the right side ; for although the novel nature 

 of the feeding, and the institution of the society for the encou- 

 ragement of flax-growing, ought to receive the closest investi- 

 gation, we still think that a proposition which has been carried 

 to its present extent with so much perseverance, and involv- 

 ing such important results, should also be met by great encou- 

 ragement, particularly Avhen a part of the proposition has been 

 proved to have so well succeeded. 



About three o'clock the company collected from the various 

 parts of the ground, and assembled in the booth, to consider 

 the desirableness of forming a society to extend and improve 

 the cultivation of flax. it 



